The US Central Intelligence Agency plans to maintain a strong ground presence in Afghanistan, despite reports that US troops may soon leave the country following a deal with the Taliban. Several news outlets reported this week that Washington would reach an agreement with the Taliban regarding the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, after receiving assurances from the Taliban that they will not cooperate with other Islamist militant groups, including al-Qaeda.
The announcement of an agreement between the United States and the Taliban could therefore be imminent. But in a foreign policy article, Stefanie Glinski, citing the example of the Khost Protection Force (KPF), a unit of 6.500 Afghan soldiers who are "trained, equipped and funded by the CIA," stressed that the CIA does not intend leave the Central Asian country in a short time. According to Glinski, the US intelligence agency known for supporting, arming and training several proxy forces across Afghanistan, plans to remain on the ground even after US troops withdraw.
The roots of the KPF go back to the days immediately following the attacks of September 11, 2001, which resulted in the US military invasion of Afghanistan. It therefore precedes the Afghan National Army, the state military apparatus of Afghanistan, and does not operate under its command. Instead, it is directed solely by the CIA, which uses it to protect the Afghan-Pakistani border and disrupt the activities of Taliban, al-Qaeda and Islamic State fighters on the Afghan borders.
KPF members claim to be "better trained than the Afghan National Army". They are also paid much better, over $ 1000,00 per month, which is a huge sum for Afghanistan. According to Glinski, the members of DPF have acquired notoriety and are often described by the media as "wild and irresponsible" who, with their aggressive tactics, have caused numerous deaths among civilians by accusing them of war crimes, risking to "radicalize parties of the same population that intends to pacify or scare up to submission ".
According to a UN report released in recent months, many Afghan civilians have died as a result of attacks by the Afghan government and American military attacks and not by the Taliban and other guerrilla groups.